Beti

Beti is an ethnolinguistic designation used for a group of closely related Bantu-speaking peoples in Central Africa, collectively known as the Beti-Pahuin. The term Beti is applied to several subgroups, including Ewondo, Bulu, Fang, and Eton, which share linguistic and cultural traits that bind them into a common cultural zone in the region.

Geography and population centers around central Africa, with Beti communities concentrated in Cameroon—especially in the Centre and South Regions—and smaller populations in neighboring countries such as Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. A diaspora population exists in other countries due to migration and historical movements.

Language and linguistics describe the Beti languages as part of the Beti-Pahuin subgroup of the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo language family. Major languages within this cluster include Ewondo, Bulu, Fang, and Eton. These languages are largely mutually intelligible to varying degrees, and many Beti speakers are multilingual, often using French or English as official languages in education and administration.

Culture and social organization center on extended family networks and clan-based communities, with traditional authorities such as chiefs and elders playing roles in local governance and cultural practices. Beti societies have rich musical and artistic traditions, including drumming, dance, and sculpture, along with distinctive rites and social customs that vary among subgroups.

History notes that the Beti populations are part of the broader Bantu migrations that shaped Central African demographics. In the colonial era, German and later French administrations influenced education, religion, and governance in Beti areas. In the modern era, Beti groups continue to contribute to regional culture and identity across Cameroon and neighboring countries.